Pneumatically-operated display device.



G. L. HOWARD. PNEUMATIGALLY OPERATED DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION PILED AUG. 7, 1911.

Patented July 7 Ma awi? VN l vvmlvw lm @NE Q/vitneooao ence characters.

CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD, 0F WASHIltTG'ION, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED DISPLAY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1914.

Application filed August 7, 1911. Serial No. 642,710.

Display Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for" producing advertising, spectacular,decorative or other effects whereby air under pressure is-admitted to ahollowbody, such as a flag pole, and issues from orifices in said bodyonto an object, such as a flag, so as to give said object such motionas. is produced by a natural current of air.

While in the drawings I have illustrated only two uses to which myinvention may be put, namely, to give flags on poles and leaves onartificial trees, such motion as is naturally produced by wind action, Ido not limit myself to any particular object capable of being waved ormoved as by a natural current of air.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a form of theinvention comprising a flag pole placed indoors, as upon a banquettable, counter, or the like, and used with a flag. Fig. 2 shows also anindoor arrangement wherein the device is placed in the corner of a roomor apartment. Fig. 3 shows the invention adapted to indoor or outdooruse. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show modifications. Fig. 7 indicates a furthermodification in which a section of the pole is provided with a swiveljoint and vane. Fig. 8 shows a further modification hereinafterdescribed. Fig. 9' represents the invention applied to an artificialtree for theatrical or other use in order to give the leaves suchmovement as is produced by a natural breeze.

Like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated inthe respective figures of the drawings by the same refer- -I will nowdescribe my invention as applied to a flag.

A represents a fla pole, hollow throughout as shown by B, but closed atits top.

G, C are orifices in the pole in front of which, or approximately so, isstrung a flag D or the like.

The structurethus far described may be placed upon a table E, as of abanquet hall,

orifices ma or hung in any suitable manner indoors or in the open air.To the lower and open end of the pole is attached a flexible pipe Fwhich in "turn is connected to a tank G, supplied with compressed airfrom any suitable source, or directly to an air-forcing dev1ce.

My invention as applied to a flag operates as follows :-On opening thecock H, compressed air from the tank G or otherwise is admitted throughthe flexible pipe F; The air entering the pole A is forced through thehollow part B and out of the orifices G onto the flag D. It will beunderstood that the flag is thus set in motion as though struck by anatural current of air. While in this figure I have shown a single rowof orifices C, it is obvious that two or more parallel rows of orificesmay be used to advantage, as shown for example in Fig. 8. In this casethe flag is strung between the two rows of orifices so as to receive aneven distribution of air on each side. These or may not have nipples asshown by To enhance the realistic effect I attach a Whistle or whistlesO to one or more of the orifices as shown in Fig. 8, thus producing thesound of the wind.

In Fig. 2 my invention is seen arranged in a corner of a room. At themeeting place of two walls, I attach a strip of wood is shown attachedto the bottom of the object A. It is apparent that this flexible pipingmay enter the pole or other object rom' the side or at any point belowthe lowermost orifice. It is to be understood that in .all forms of myinvention the only escape of condensed air is through the orifices andupon the object to be moved.

In Fig. 3 is shown a flag poleA hollowed out as at B with orifices Carranged on opposite sides of the pole. In front of each row of orificesis strung a flag D. when air enters in the direction indicated by thearrow,

In this figure and in Fig. 1, the flexible air conducting pipe F CAL-and escapes through the orifices C, it is evident that the flags willblow in opposite directions. More than two flags may be arranged atdifferent points of the circumference of the pole with the same effect.A plate J may be fastened to the pole A for the purpose of displayingadvertising matter.

In operation it will be more satisfactory, in some instances, to havethe air forced through the orifices against an object from an auxiliarytube within or without the pole or other body.

In Fig. 4 is shown a pole A in which is arranged a pipe K, said pipehaving orifices Ii correspondingto those in the pole as indicated by C.

In Fig. 5 the pipe K is shown sunk in the side of the pole A, the airbeing forced directly from the orifices Ii onto the flag.

In Fig. 6 the pipe K is seen aflixed to the outside of the pole. Thesame principle of invention is carried out when this auXil iary pipe Kis used. The flag is strung upon the pole so as to be affected, aspreviously described, by the air emitted from the orifices L. It is tobe understood that when an inner tube is used in connection with a poleor like object with orifices arranged as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 8, or inany other equivalent manner, the inner tube is provided with corres'ionding orifices in alinement with those of the outer pole.

Upon the pole A, as indicated in Fig. 7, I provide for the combinationof a. swivel joint M and a weather-vane N. When an inner pipe is used italso has upon it a swivel joint Q, as shown in Fig. 4, to enable it toturn simultaneously with the pole when guided by the weather vane. Inthe operation of my invention out of doors this joint and vane willenable the flag to turn with the breeze, even though it may not be offorce sullieient to wave the flag. To enhance the striking effect of myinvention the orifices may be placed so that the flag shall be waved asapparently by a current of air coming from a direction contrary to thatinduced by the vane.

In lFig. 9 the invention is seen applied to an artificial tree. In thisinstance, A. represents the hollow body of the trunk, preferablyconstructed of piping, from which project similar hollow limbs I eachclosed at its end. At different points upon the limbs P are orifices C,similar to those on the flag pole previously described. Around thisframe of piping artificial bark B may be arranged and leaves S hungadjacent to the orifices. Compressed air is now forced into the hollowbody A, through the limbs l, and out of the orifices C upon the leavesS, thus giving them such natural wave or flutter as would be obtained bythe force of a natural breeze.

For out of door use it will be seen that the invention is of practicaland spectacular value at a time when there is practically no breezestirring. There are many days in the year when flags and other objectsare inanimate on account of the lack of air currents. By the employmentof air under pressure, as herein shown and described, it will be seenthat flags and other flexible objects capable of a Waving or flutteringmovement may upon calm days and atlittle expense be caused to wave.

For indoor purposes my invention may be used upon banquet tables, thetheatrical.

stage, in show rooms and windows, and in various other ways.

I do not llmlt my invention to any par tlcular size or constructlon, and1t Wlll be understood that it may be built in minia-e ture, as for toys,or in sizes large enough for patriotic, political, commercial,advertising or other purposes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of ahollow body with orifices therein, means for forcing air to said bodyand out of said orifices, and a flexible object carried by said hollowbody in such proximity to said orifices as to be operated upon by theforced air, substantially as set forth. i

2. The combination of a hollow body with orifices therein, means forrotating said hollow body, a whistle upon one or more orifices, meansfor forcing air to said hollow body and out of said orifices,'and aflexible object carried by said hollow body in such proximity to saidorifices as to be operated upon by the forced air, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination of a hollow body with a. plurality of sets oforifices therein, means for rotating said hollow body, means for forcingair to said body and out of each set of orifices, and flexible objectscarried by said hollow body each in such proximity to a set of orificesas to be operated upon by the forced air, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a hollow body with a plurality of sets of orificestherein, means for rotating said hollow body, means for forcing air tosaid hollow body and out of each orifice, flexible objects carried bysaid hollow body each in such proximity to a set of orifices as to beoperated upon by the forced air, and whistling means acted on by saidair, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination. of a hollow body with orifices therein, a pipewithin said hollow body with orifices corresponding to those in saidhollow body, means for forcing air to said pipe and out of saidcorrespoi'rding orifices, a flexible object carried by said hollow bodyin such proximity to said correthe forced air, and whistling means actedon by said air, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a hollow body with orifices therein, a pipe Withinsaid hollow body with orifices corresponding to those in the hollowbody, means for rotating said hollow body and pipe simultaneously, means.for forcing air to said pipe andout of said corresponding orifices, anda flexible object carried by said hollow body in such proximity to saidcorresponding orifices as to be operated upon by the forced air,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a hollow body with orifices therein, a pipe withinsaid hollow body with orifices corresponding to those in said hollowbody, means for rotating said hollow body and pipe simultaneously, meansfor forcing air to said pipe and out of "said corresponding orifices, aflexible object carried by said hollow body in such proximity to saidcorresponding orifices as to be operatedupon by the forced air, andWhistling means acted on by said air, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a hollow body with a plurality of sets of orificestherein, a pipe within said hollow body with sets of orificescorresponding to those in the hollow body, means for forcing air to saidpipe and out of said corresponding orifices, and a flexible objectcarriedby said hollow body in such proximity to said orifices as to beoperated upon by the forced air, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a hollow body with a plurality of sets of orificestherein, a pipe within said hollow body with sets of orificescorresponding to those in the hollow body means for rotating said hollowbody and pipe simultaneously, means for forcing air to said pipe and outof said corresponding orifices, and a flexible object carried by saidhollow body in such proximity to said orifices as to be operated upon byforced air, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a hollow body with a plurality of sets oforifices therein, a pipe within said hollow body with orificescorresponding to those in said hollow body, means for forcing air tosaid pipe and out of said corresponding orifices, a flexible objectcarried by said hollow body in such proximity to said orifices as to beoperated upon by forced air, and whistling means acted on by said air,substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a hollow body with a plurality of sets oforifices therein, a pipe Within said hollow body with orificescorresponding to those in said hollow body, means for rotating saidhollow body and pipe simultaneously, means for forcing air to said pipeand out of said corresponding orifices, a flexible object carried bysaid hollow body in such proximity to said orifices as to be operatedupon by forced air, and whistling means acted on by said air,substantially as set forth.

12. A tubular supporting member having means for egress of air admittedto its interior, and a source of compressed air communicating with theinterior of said mem ber, combined with a flexible object associatedwith said member in proximity to the egress of air therefrom, wherebythe air shall strike said flexible object and the latter shall therebybe given a Waving or fluttering movement, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD.

' Witnesses:

G. H. HOWARD, G. B. BULL.

